Once upon a time, there was a little village that was located on the quiet side of America. With large open spaces and wooded areas encircling the village, life in the village was uncomplicated; people worked hard and were deeply rooted in their values and history. Enter Lina, a fiery and intelligent twelve year-old with a heart of gold. Together with her parents, they lived on a small farm outside the village. Although her family was not wealthy, they were deeply connected and lived in a loving and caring environment.
However, amidst this loving environment of farm work and baking, Lina often found herself uncomfortable. She always believed that there was more to life than this and that being idle became a problem over time. While tending to chickens and baking bread with her mother was a fulfilling and content experience, she wished for some excitement and how the magic moments of life make her truly alive.
One evening during the summer, Lina was in her backyard and watching fireflies while her parents were preparing for dinner. As she sat there, she was feeling restless and loathed the fact that she could not find something to do; even the beautiful laughter of her parents that emanated from the kitchen could not help her. She stared into the woods as they began to darken, while whispering, “There has to be something more out there.”
The Discovery
Lina began to wander into the woods in the direction of where she would be with the intent to blackberry. However, this time, she decided to choose a path that she had never explored before; the air felt unusually still, and the road was full of wildflowers and soft moss. Her exploration ultimately led her to an old stone well that is partially caved in, and vines surrounded its edges; it looked ancient, as it seemed to have been waiting to be discovered for centuries.
It was then when she felt the urge to walk towards the stone well and that her grandmother’s story regarding a wishing stone resurfaced in her memories. The stone believed that those with a pure and honest heart were granted a wish by the stone wed.
Lina gazed into the darkness below, her heart pounding with a blend of fear and excitement. Bringing her hands together, with her eyes shut tight, she prayed, "Let there be a love that conquers me completely."
As she completed her wish, a gentle breeze brushed through the leaves, and the base of the well began to glow. At that moment, Lina's heart skipped a beat, and uncertainty took over as she slowly opened her eyes in bafflement
The Magic Unfolds
Lina returned home, after that night, feeling the lightest she felt in a very long time and carrying the feeling of hope that accompanied her wish. It was a feeling that could best be described as warm and unbearable at the same time. With the sun now shining through the window and warming her room up, and the sound of her parents laughing filling the house, it was safe to say that everything around her was colorfully busy.
Over time, more and more people began to show interest in her. Strangers became good friends as they showered Lina with warm smiles, and her once quiet neighbors enthusiastically struck up conversations with her. Slowly, Lina’s chest began to feel heavy, and she was left wondering whether her wish had actually been fulfilled or not.
But just as Lina was getting used to the idea of magic, trouble came knocking. The summer rains began to fail, which the village depended upon for harvesting. The fields turned parched, and the rivers shrank. Lina’s family struggled to run the farm, and the formerly happy villagers became fearful and scared.
The Stranger Arrives
A lean and tall man strode into the plaza while they were searching for answers about their concerns. They were still recovering from the events of that day. On a particularly humid and hot day, a tall, slender man walked into view. A weather magician, Evan, arrived at the states he had been traveling around, claiming to work as a weather magician.
Suffering from the pain that was experienced in the draught, it was increased even more by the amount of desperation that this man showed. When being carefully examined by the villagers, Evan told them that he could help with the fields and that they could even trust him; however, he needed their help with the rituals.
The cheers erupted, and Lina, who had been standing on the outskirts, was one of the first people to raise her hand. Evan had some kind of magic in him, and I wanted to feel it, but I had no words for what he could offer. She had never felt that kind of excitement in her life and wanted to. For the first time in weeks, she felt confident enough to believe that they could restore the village.
Rain and Romance
Evan, true to his word, began his tasks, and under the full moon, along with villagers engaged in strange dances, erected intricate altars. Before long, the hot summer came to an end, and it started raining. Abundant water provided the dry land with all the nourishment it needed, and new plants began to grow in the fields.
The villagers immediately cheered in excitement and made Evan their hero, which made Lina fall for him more and more each day. She helped him out on his rituals in the mornings and spent the evenings by listening to tales about faraway places.
Evan was the first boy that Lina liked, and even now she is refusing to accept that she liked him; she felt the need for him to adore her or be pleased with whatever she has done for him. This feeling was above clouds, and she couldn’t fathom the love she always yearned for.
The Glamour Dissolves
But with time, strange incidents began to occur. The rains shifted from being sporadic to chaotic, for a single place would be drenched while others were completely dry. Within no time, cabbage began to rot, and animal husbandry began to age.
At the beginning, the ecosystem was feeling okay, but with the passage of time, the whole system started to shrivel.
This feeling led to Evan being gossiped about by the villagers, and Evan was not bothered by their gossip, and he shrugged their concerns off, saying that the land was healing. But Lina couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something.
With the passage of time, one day when the sun was setting, she decided to confront him. “Evan,” she said through her trembled voice, “can you please explain why it is getting worse and what is happening to the land?”
For a second, Evan was showing hesitation, and his confident behavior faded. He looked away and sighed, then began talking: “The magic isn’t perfect, Lina,” he said. “Sometimes.Greatly.”
After hearing what she heard, Lina’s heart sank. “What do you mean?”
Evan took a moment but finally said,. He had performed rituals so many times that the land was only drained and weakened from that. Temporarily the rain was helpful, but only. These new effects have been unwaveringly detrimental in the long term.
"She says, ' you have always wanted to help. Why have you lied to us?' As tears threaten to spill out of her eyes. She sounds sad," Evan said as he sighed.
"I'm sorry, but I have not said that I'm a master of this art; I have only said," Evan said softly, sounding slightly uncomfortable with the line of conversation. "It is naive to think that there is magic without consequences."
Bittersweet Farewell
Lina's face went pale as she came to comprehend the depths of his words. ' How can he say this? How can he think like this?’ she thought to herself in animosity. An inferno of hate sparked within her from all sides. Everything that she had experienced and endured set her ablaze with unbearable warmth, unfathomable to say the least.
The villagers were furious as had cheated against them and thus made him leave. As a result, even though Lina was heartbroken, she confirmed it as true. She remained in a stupor as Evan was gathering his personal items and walking along the dirt road, his image growing tinier with each stride he took.
As the days piled up into weeks and the weeks further extended into months, Lina went through the complete and sole effort to ensure that the village stood on its feet once again. Along with her peers, she assisted in repairing sick animals, reseeding fields, and being more resourceful. The warmth is still embedded deep inside her chest even if it lost some of its energy and remains so until she finishes reminiscing about her homeland and people.
The Wishing Well Revisited
During one fateful night, as Lina looked into the horizon and as the sun was setting down, she recalled an old well located in the woods. She stands in the forefront position as she recalls all that has happened since she made the wish.
"I wanted love," she spoke, this time in a low, shaky voice. "But love was not something I knew how to define."
A gentle breeze stroked through the leaves and in vague response. For a second or two, she thought she saw the old well sparkle softly through the drops of tears pouring out from her eyes.
For a brief moment, she smiled, understanding that she was being wished for, but not in the way I think she hoped to be.
A love so deep that it cannot be opted or relinquished, love found in the community, the village, the friends, and family that surrounded her. That type of love is internal. That type of love is self-love.
A New Beginning
Days turned to months, and months turned to years, and with time, Lina was able to harness all of the pain, anguish, and struggles that made her strong. The village began to flourish, the soil became rich with life once again, and it turned green in an earthly tone. The heart of the community, a couple who was able to inspire those who lost hope
Although the thought of new adventures, magic, and the lessons Evan once taught her occasionally crossed her mind, that longing no longer existed. Ordinary life and all its challenges held far more value to her in the end—something timeless worth holding on to.
Softly dancing amongst the rippling twilight, fireflies illuminated the sunken well. The once haunting valley now felt surrounded by happiness. Happiness created through bittersweet memories. A journey of self reflection cemented her place abruptly in those eerie hills and stitched her heart back together, leaving her in pure serenity.